Spectator's guide

CAPITAL WEATHER GANG: Tournament officials, specators, and golfers may well get frustrated during the course of the tournament with showers and thunderstorms a possibility at many times. The best chance of rain is Thursday and the driest day should be Saturday. While it won't be excruciatingly hot, the refreshing dry air of recent days will have vacated.

Bio information on the five who can win, five who can win (but won't), five dark horses, five you must see, five curiosites and a quick look at the rest of the 156-golfer field.

Parking and transportation

An expected 250,000 spectators will attend the U.S. Open, to be held June 13-19 at Congressional Country Club. In an effort to reduce the congestion in and around Bethesda, the USGA is directing spectators to arrive via shuttle -- from the Grosvenor Metro Station or designated parking lots in Gaithersburg and at Dulles Airport -- or get dropped off across the street at the Norwood School.

Click a spot on the map below for details:

Parking: Montgomery County Fairgrounds and Crown Farm

For practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday (June 13 and 14): All general spectators will be directed to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, located off North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg.

From Wednesday through Sunday (June 15-19): The Fairgrounds is the preferred option for spectators traveling southbound on I-270. Spectators traveling northbound on I-270 should park at Crown Farm, located on Fields Road, south of Sam Eig Highway.

Shuttles will run continuously from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, with transportation expected to take 25 minutes.

Drop-off area: The Norwood School

There will be no general parking or parking for spectators with disabilities in the immediate vicinity of Congressional.

The passenger, taxi and limousine drop-off location is located across the street, at the Norwood School on Bradley Blvd.

Metro: Shuttle from Grosvenor

Spectators taking Metro can reserve a spot in advance on a shuttle from the red line's Grosvenor-Strathmore station by visiting tms-llc.com.

Daily shuttle passes, good for unlimited trips during the day, are $8. A weekly shuttle pass is $35, which will provide unlimited shuttle service Monday through Sunday. Children ages 12 and younger do not need shuttle passes.

Parking: Dulles International Airport

Shuttle buses from the parking area at Dulles will utilize the VA 267 Access Road. This will be the most efficient way for spectators along I-95 and west of I-495 in Virginia to access the championship. A parking pass will be required to use this parking option at Dulles.

Spectators should call the championship office prior to June 10 at (301) 365-5500 to receive their parking pass.

Schedule of events

All times are EDT.

Practice rounds

Players will have the option of starting at the first or 10th tee. Those electing to play a full round generally begin between 7 a.m. and 2:52 p.m. It is typical for players to be on the golf course or practice areas until at least 7 p.m.

Monday, June 13: Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 14: Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 15: Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

First and second rounds

Play is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. from both the first and 10th tees. The last pairings each day will begin play at 2:52 p.m. and finish at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 16: Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday, June 17: Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Third and final rounds

Generally, the first pairing begins play from the first tee between 8 and 9 a.m. The last pairing for both days will start from the first tee at approximately 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 18 (third round): Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 19 (final round): Gates open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Playoff (if necessary)

If there is a tie for the lead at the end of 72 holes, and 18-hole playoff will begin at noon and finish at approximately 4 p.m.

Monday, June 20: Gates open at 9:30 a.m.

Prohibited items

Spectators will be required to go through an on-site security screening checkpoint at parking and shuttle areas, or at Congressional if they are using another form of transportation. Here is a list of banned items:

Cell phones (including those with photographic capabilities)

CPDAs or other portable email devices

Noise-producing electronic devices (including MP3 players)

Cameras/camcorders (other than Monday through Wednesday for personal, non-commercial use only and without their cases)